A vast majority of breastfeeding women experience nipple soreness.1 Poor breastfeeding technique, breast engorgement, use of a feeding bottle, tight clothes and abrasions during feeding have all been linked with cracked and sore nipples.2,3

Herbs can be an effective and safe choice for the management of dry, sore and cracked nipples during breastfeeding. Kokum, or Garcinia indica, is a tropical evergreen tree. Kokum fruit contains numerous bioactive compounds that have antioxidant, anti-bacterial and antifungal properties. Scientific literature suggests that kokum has potential activity against several cancer cell lines, including breast cancer, liver cancer and leukaemia. It also has antihistamine and anti-inflammatory properties. Kokum has been used traditionally as a medicine for diarrhea, skin infection and wound healing. The fruit is known to contain citric acid, acetic acid, malic acid, ascorbic acid, hydroxyl citric acid and garcinol. The key pharmacological effects of kokum include the following: Antibacterial, antidiabetic, antineoplastic and chemopreventive, antifungal, anti-obesity, antioxidant, cardioprotective, gastroprotective, inhibitory effects on elastase and hyaluronidase, inhibition of carbonyl content, inhibition of lipid peroxidation, and neuroprotection.4

Kokum is used to treat ulcers, inflammations, sores, and dermatitis. Application of kokum butter on the skin has wound healing property and helps relieve ulcerations, fissures, chapped skin and inflammatory sores.4 Kokum also contains anthocyanin pigments, tannins, pectin, omega oils, and oxalic acid. On account of its cooling effects, an infusion of kokum can be directly applied to skin rashes, burns and dry skin. Kokum butter has soothing properties and acts as an astringent. It is often used in ointments to treat fissures and cracked skin.5 The anti-hyaluronidase and anti-elastase activities of kokum have a role in skin care.6

Kokum butter has excellent emollient properties and high oxidative stability, which supports emulsion integrity. On account of its emollient property, kokum works as a natural moisturizer and keeps the skin supple and silky smooth and has a potential role in the treatment for severely dry skin, ulceration and fissures.7

Kokum fruit is rich in antioxidants that bind with free radicals and prevent oxidative damage to body cells. They tend promote cell regeneration and repair. Kokum butter is highly effective for dry chapped, sensitive, irritated or burnt skin, and works as an intensive skin moisturizer. Its soothing and healing properties facilitate its direct application to wounds and infected areas on the skin.8

Kokum hastens wound healing.8 Its emollient, moisturizing and healing effects on dry, cracked skin, make kokum butter an excellent remedy for dry, sore and cracked nipples.

References

1. Saeidi R, Robatsangi MG, Tafazol M. Effect of aloe vera gel on nipple sores. Iranian Journal of Neonatology 2010;1(1):13-4.
2. da Silva Santos KJ, Santana GS, de Oliveira Vieira T, et al. Prevalence and factors associated with cracked nipples in the first month postpartum. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2016; 16: 209.
3. Khan T. Common Breastfeeding Problems, Part 3 of 3: Nipple Pain + Infection. Available from: http://www.familydocs.org/f/14.CME_.Spotlight.JAN_.Breastfeeding.pdf. Accessed on April 30, 2018.
4. Ranveer RC, Sahoo AK. Bioactive Constituents of Kokum and its Potential Health Benefits. Nutrition and Food Toxicology 2017;1(6):236-44.
5. Hartvig K. Healing Spices: 50 Wonderful Spices, and How to Use Them in Health-giving Foods and Drinks. Nourish, London; 2016.
6. Jagtap P, Bhise K, Prakya V. A Phytopharmacological Review on Garcinia indica. International Journal of Herbal Medicine 2015;3(4):2-7.
7. Swami SB, Thakor NJ, Patil SC. Kokum (Garcinia Indica) and its Many Functional Components as Related to the Human Health: A Review. Journal of Food Research and Technology 2014;2(4):130-42.
8. Braganza M, Shirodkar A, Bhat DJ, Krishnan S (Eds). Western Ghats Kokum Foundation’s Resource Book on Kokum (Garcinia indica Choisy). 2012; Goa, India. Available from: http://ofai.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/Resource-book-on-Kokum.pdf.